Many veterans assume a rating that no longer matches their health is just something to live with, or that the only fix is arguing about the old decision. There are three separate routes to a higher combined rating, and adding a new rating, rather than revisiting an existing one, is often the more productive route.
When to seek a higher rating
Your rating does not have to stay where it is just because VA set it there. If a service connected condition has gotten worse, or it has caused a new problem, you can ask VA to raise it. File at the right time, bring the right evidence, and understand the small risk that comes with reopening a rating.
There are three routes to a higher combined rating. Many veterans use more than one.
Route 1: File for an increase on a worsened condition
If a condition you are already rated for is more severe than it was, file a claim for increase. VA will compare your current symptoms against the rating schedule and assign the level your evidence supports. The most persuasive evidence is recent and specific: treatment records that document the change, a current examination, and your own account of how the condition limits daily life and work.
Route 2: Add a secondary condition
A condition caused or made worse by a service connected one can be service connected on a secondary basis under 38 CFR 3.310. Common examples include depression that grows out of chronic pain, or sleep apnea linked to another rated condition. A secondary claim adds a new rating to your combination rather than changing an existing one, so it is often the cleanest way to raise the total. A short medical opinion connecting the two conditions is what carries this kind of claim.
Route 3: Total disability based on individual unemployability
If your service connected conditions keep you from holding steady work that supports you, you may qualify for total disability based on individual unemployability, known as TDIU, under 38 CFR 4.16. TDIU pays at the 100 percent rate even when your combined schedular rating is below 100 percent. It rests on work history and the effect of your conditions on employment, not just the rating numbers.
Evidence that supports a higher rating
VA decides on the record in front of it. Strong claims usually include current treatment notes, a recent examination or a completed Disability Benefits Questionnaire from a provider, and a clear lay statement describing frequency, severity, and the tasks you can no longer do. Statements from a spouse or coworker who sees the symptoms can add weight.
The risk of filing for an increase
Filing for an increase opens the condition to review, and a review can go down as well as up if the evidence shows improvement. Two protections limit that risk. A rating in place for five years or more cannot be reduced unless the record shows sustained improvement under 38 CFR 3.344, and a rating held at the same level for twenty years is generally protected from reduction below that level. If your condition is genuinely worse, the risk is small, but know it before you file.
How to file
You can file a claim for increase the same way you filed the original claim, online or on paper. Submit your new evidence with the claim when you can, which keeps the decision moving. If you want help, an accredited representative can file and manage the claim for you at no cost for the filing itself.
For the step-by-step mechanics, see our guide on filing for an increased rating. To map out secondary conditions, use the secondary condition map. To gather proof, work through the evidence checklist. If work is the issue, read more on the TDIU calculator.
Before you file for an increase, ask
- Does recent medical evidence actually document the worsening, or is the file still describing the old severity?
- Would a secondary condition add more than pushing an existing rating one tier?
- If work is no longer possible, is TDIU the truer claim than a percentage fight?
- Has the rating been in place long enough for the 5 or 20 year protections, and does the evidence rule out an improvement finding?
Common questions
What are the three ways to increase a VA disability rating?
There are three honest routes. File a claim for increase when a condition you are already rated for has worsened. Add a secondary condition that a service connected condition caused or made worse, under 38 CFR 3.310. Or, if your service connected conditions keep you from steady work, pursue total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) under 38 CFR 4.16, which pays at the 100 percent rate.
What evidence supports a higher VA rating?
VA decides on the record in front of it. Strong claims usually include current treatment notes, a recent examination or a completed Disability Benefits Questionnaire from a provider, and a clear lay statement describing how often symptoms occur, how severe they are, and the tasks you can no longer do.
Can filing for an increase lower my rating?
It can. Filing opens the condition to review, and a review can go down as well as up if the evidence shows improvement. Two protections limit that risk: a rating in place for five years or more cannot be reduced without evidence of sustained improvement, and a rating held for twenty years generally cannot be reduced below its lowest level except for fraud.
How do I file a claim for an increased rating?
You file the same way you filed the original claim, online or on paper, and it helps to submit your new evidence with the claim so the decision keeps moving. An accredited representative can file and manage the claim for you at no cost.